i'm selling my wife's C55 so i can pick up a ML550
i was offered 4K off msrp....just wanted to know if that was a good deal or not.
Thanks

that's little under invoice price...
if tax and fees are included at that price, then it's good deal...

You can get 4k off MSRP on an ML350 without a sweat, I'd look for more on a 550 especially with 09's being facelifted ones.

thanks for the help guys

I got $7800 off MSRP on 1/31/08. Emailed 5 dealers in NJ area on 1/30/08. 3 dealers had no ML550 in stock. 1 had 2 and the other had 4 in stock. Wife must have options - P2 & Leather. Went with the dealer that had the options my wife wanted plus Keyless & Parktronic. I told the CA that I'll take the ML550 off the lot tonight (1/31/08) if I can get a GREAT GREAT deal. CA called back with #s.

33 months/7500k - no cap cost reduction - only inception fees of $2300.
CA initial offer was $950 per month. I counter $780. He called back with $875- no $780. He then called me from his manager office and offer me $825, - no $780 then I mentioned another dealership offer. CA said his last offer will be $799. I said no and thank him for his time. Before I could finish my sentence, CA said $785 and I said OK - it's a deal.

According to my research and phone calls, there were no ML550 with leather in NJ except my dealer which has 2 with leather/P2 (Verde Brook & Barolo Red) and MB of Freehold (Silver no P2).

I went to one dealer on 1/31/08 which had no ML550 in stock but offer me a 2008 GL450 with only P1 & iPod for $769 per month and same terms as above. That was very tempting. The truck was for the wife and I think it too much truck for her. If it was for me, I'll take the GL450.

Anyway, according to my lease agreement - MSRP $64,575, Cap Cost $56,767

Bottom line, be patient, tried to follow dealers' inventory from beginning of the month. My truck was at the dealer inventory from Jan 3, 2008. At that time, that truck was over my budget (we were looking @MSRP of $60/$61k, not $64.5k). When the ML was still in inventory on 1/31/08, then I took a shot at it, but I never expected my dealer would go this low.

I always shop at the end of the month. From my experience, there is always ONE dealer that will give a great deal. The GM from my local dealer (MB of Freehold) called my offer (300 below invoice) STUPID!! His last parting shot at me was - "No one will sell you below invoice, That is a Stupid offer." I gave him a big smile and told him to have a good night.

One last thing, my CA said his dealer is the second largest (in sales) in USA. The largest is FJ in Califonia.

^ I dont even need to ask, you bought from Ray Catena ....Great guys there, can be tough on price but hey they come around when pressed. They certainly have the best selection of inventory in the tri-state let alone the northeast.

Hey blazinginder, where have you been? You were missing for awhile!

As for the dealer, NO (surprise?) - I was. Before I went there, their website showed 3 ML550s. When I got to Ray, the CA told me they did not have ANY in stock They had to get me one from a CT dealer - MSRP $62k, $769 per month and same terms. But they did offered the GL450, MSRP $65k, $769 per month and same terms. According to the CA, pick any GL450 (they had 68 in stock), we'll give you a great price, but the credit application have to be in by tonight (1/31/08). Very tempting.

haha yea I've been MIA from the boards for a while and just recently came back on the "scene"...but yea which dealer did you get it from? I was under the impression that Ray Catena was the Second largest dealer (for volume) in the country behind FJ...he's definitely the largest in the northeast unless I'm things have changed as of late.

That is a killer deal & 68 GL450's WOW that is ridiculous...I just love their service they provide and would pay more (up to a point) just to get the perks they provide to cars bought from their dealership

...off topic but I saw another GL550 today, very few around here, wouldnt you say? and man did that thing looked beastly, I just love those wheels and the whole AMG style...just thought I'd go on a tangent

blazinginder, welcome back!

Prestige. My CA was pushing the ML350, they had 96 ML350's and 56 GL450's. There were 2 area that I didn't like the GL. The first area was the black plastic undersiding around the truck, it didn't look right. You really have to get a black GL to hide those plastic undersiding. Second was leather seats. It's a MB & a $66k truck, put in the damn leather.

As for the ML550, loved the power and loved the AMG bumper/wheels. One option I didn't care for before the purchase was Keyless Go. Now I loved the Keyless Go. Worst option - Parktronic.

As for the GL550, total out of my price range, but loved the whole package.